In article 6445574c-f36f-4da1-8acb-5a863a353a04
@o33g2000pri.googlegroups.com, says...

On Jun 28, 4:52*pm, Harryk wrote:
...and the guy that Canuck admires...

Scott and Columbia/HCA.

Scott started what was first called Columbia in the spring of 1987 by
purchasing two El Paso, Texas, hospitals. He quickly grew the company
into one of the country's largest publicly traded hospital chains, and
in 1994, merged Columbia with Tennessee-headquartered HCA and its 100
hospitals.

In early 1997, federal agents revealed they were investigating the
Columbia/HCA chain for, among other things, Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
Allegations included that Columbia/HCA billed Medicare and Medicaid for
tests that were not necessary or ordered by physicians, and that the
hospital chain would perform one type of medical test but bill the
federal government for a more expensive test or procedure. Agents seized
records from Columbia facilities across the country in Tennessee, North
Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah and Florida.

Scott resigned in the middle of the federal investigation in July 1997.
Scott said he wanted to fight the federal government accusations; the
corporate board of Columbia/HCA wanted to settle, and did. In 2000, the
company pleaded guilty to at least 14 corporate felonies and agreed to
pay $840 million in criminal fines and civil damages and penalties. The
company agreed to further settlements in 2002, paying an additional $881
million in fines.

- - -
Unfortunately, the settlement cut off the possibility of criminal
charges against Scott.

A billion and a half in fines...

And now he's governor of Florida.

--
Want to discuss recreational boating and fishing in a forum where
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http://groups.google.com/group/rec-boating-fishing

Them good ole southern boys sure do like their criminals.

What makes you think that "southern boys" "like their criminals" any
more than any other demographic area? Especially crime riddled Halifax?